Q&A: New Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown on what he stands for (and what Snoop Dogg thinks of him)

Editor’s Note:In private text messages that were leaked to theGlobe and Mail, Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown claimed that, in this article, Toronto Life had misquoted his responses to questions about same-sex marriage and sex education. After double-checking the tapes, we are confident that his quotes here are accurate.

(Image: Erin Leydon)

You emerged from relative obscurity to win the Ontario PC leadership in a landslide. Get us up to speed: who are you and where did you come from?
I’ve been a Conservative party soldier at various levels for the last 22 years. I got my law degree in Windsor, spent two terms on Barrie council and then three terms in the House of Commons. I was so frustrated after the Ontario PC party’s defeat that I decided to get involved.

Your dad ran federally for the NDP; your mom was a schoolteacher. How did you wind up a diehard Conservative?
I wrote a letter to Brian Mulroney in grade school about acid rain. He responded, and I liked what he said. I told my parents, “I think I agree with the Conservative party.”

They didn’t try to sway you to the left?
No. They were just happy that I took an interest in politics. In fact, my dad has since become a Conservative.

Who is your Conservative patron saint?
It’s hard to pick just one. If I could patch together various Conservative qualities, I’d say Jean Charest’s passion, John A. Macdonald’s nation-building, Narendra Modi’s ability to link education to employment, and Thatcher’s boldness.

You attended St. Michael’s College for high school. Are you religious?
Not really. I was more into hockey.

I saw a photo of you in which you have frosted tips. Confirm or deny.
Oh, man! I tried to have those photos burned. Unfortunately, we’re in an age when nothing is ever really erased.

You recently released an ad featuring you running a marathon. Did no one tell you that running is Wynne’s thing?
I was running long before Kathleen Wynne became premier. I used to do 10 half marathons and two fulls a year. The most gruelling was along the Great Wall of China: 30-plus degrees and heavy smog, but beautiful.

You met Snoop Dogg recently. What did you talk about?
He told me I look like a young Steve Nash. That was about it. I didn’t think he was interested in discussing public policy.

Are you a fan of the Doggfather’s oeuvre?
I wouldn’t say I have his complete discography, but I did enjoy his cameo in Old School.

You promised your grandmother you’d marry and have kids by age 40. You’re 37 now. Any updates for Nana?
None, unfortunately, but the pressure is on.

How does your bachelor status play with the party’s family-values base?
It isn’t an issue. They care about my ideas, not who I’m dating.

Which is to say…
Haha. No one. I want to marry and have kids, but I’m wedded to my job.

Tinder: thoughts?
I’ve got a few friends who are big fans, but I haven’t used it.

In 2005, you attended a rally opposing same-sex marriage, and as an MP you voted to reopen the debate over the definition of marriage. You’ve since said you won’t revisit the same-sex marriage debate, but it’s important for Ontarians to know where you stand: should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?
Yes. My thinking has evolved over time, and I now support same-sex marriage.

You’ve objected to the Liberals’ proposed sex ed curriculum. What about it offends you?
I’m not going to get into specifics.

My suspicion: in 2011, you voted against adding gender identity to the Human Rights Act. That term is in the new curriculum. Do you believe that a person’s gender identity may not match his or her physiology?
I’m comfortable with teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Then how do you explain the vote in 2011?
It was a long time ago. And many of my constituents felt that bill pushed special instead of equal rights.

If you were premier tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d do?
I’d make Ontario a more attractive place to invest by reducing red tape, and open up transportation corridors to the Ring of Fire.

13 thoughts on “Q&A: New Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown on what he stands for (and what Snoop Dogg thinks of him)”

After the last two Ontario elections, where the governing Liberals had so many scandals haunting them, it seemed to be the Tories to lose. And they did! Both times.
Now they pick a leader that somehow manages to be less appealing than the morons that preceded him. I’m beginning to think the provincial Tories want to keep the Liberals in power. This guy is so out of touch with our province he makes Wynne seem good…and that’s saying something. She must be feeling good knowing that the opposition is fielding such a weak candidate.

Another life long politician with no real world experience. Personally I don’t care if their Conservative or Liberal, I just want someone who’s achieved more than just success at the ballot box.

Saying you don’t like the curriculum but not wanting to get into specifics (though specifics were given to questions like why did you become a Conservative) are akin to Wynne saying she’s going to take action on the cancelled gas plants but not going to give any details on what she’s going to do.

This is why Rob Ford and Donald Trump are so popular, they don’t give these political answers, they shoot from the hip. They don’t care if their opinion is right or wrong (very rarely the former) but they do care that you hear their opinion. That how desperate politics has become, you actually begin to hope that qualified candidates are more like Ford or Trump. Sad.

I am sure Kathleen Wynne threw a big party when she heard Brown was elected leader. This is yet another lesson in how rotten our systems are for electing political party leaders. Voting for leaders should be restricted to members in good standing for at least one year. The way it is now, candidates can jump into the fray and at almost any time and sign up anyone as a party member to get their vote.

Wonderful old saying…”never interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake”. Wynne must have been thrilled seeing him chosen. Three elections in a row the Tories field unelectable candidates. Amazing.

Malcolm Johnston, you failed to ask some Big Questions:
1) Do you believe that adherents of some religious faiths have the right to impose their beliefs on society as a whole?
2) Do you believe that couples or women should NOT have the right to decide whether they wish to continue an unwanted pregnancy?
3) Recently, in the House of Commons, you were among several MPs who attempted to secure passage of a bill that would have prohibited abortion. If elected in Ontario, would your government outlaw abortion?
4) You have changed your position on same sex marriage. Have you changed your mind on the right of couples or women to decide whether or not they wish to proceed with a pregnancy?

You recently released an ad featuring you running a marathon. Did no one tell you that running is Wynne’s thing?
I was billing taxpayers for running marathons (even though I lied and said I was at the U.N.)long before Kathleen Wynne became premier.